THE REV. G. BROWN AND NEW BRITAIN.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3238, 7 February 1879, Page 3

THE REV. G. BROWN AND NEW BRITAIN.

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS BY IHB CAPTAIN OP THE 'ARIADNE.' Captain B. Yon Webneb, commander of the German man-of-war 'Ariadne,' now* in Auckland harbour, has been at the Duke of York Island, and has made full inquiry into the circumstances connect: i ; witn the murder of native missionaries and subsequent events. It will be seen that not only does he exonerate Mr Brown from blame, but has recommended the German Government to expressly approve his conduct.. Captain Yon Werner states that he was; in Fiji in November last, and heard, whlie there, a number of contradictory reports in relation to the action Mr Brown had taken in New Britain. This action was condemned in unmeasured terms by certain persons, who. alleged that Mr Brown would be punished with at least five years' imprisonment, Mr John Gorrie, the Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, informed Captain Yon Werner that he should proceed to Duke of _• York Island, in her Majesty's ship ' Njrmphtf,' to investigate the case. The 'Ariadne' left tlie Fijis on the 3rd of November, the' Nymphe' arriving there on the same day. On the 10th of Dec. the 'Ariadne' arrived at the Duke of York Island, and remained until the 20th of _ the same month. During this period Captain Yon Werner saw Mr Brown frequently, conversing with him upon the subject, He also had many conversations with Germans and other' Europeans residing there, who were personally acquainted with the facts of the case. The statements made to him were to the effect that Mr Brown was powerless to prevent the party from going, as the people were greatly excited, and determined to infliot summary justice. Captain Yon Werner states that his opinion is tbat the Rev Mr Brown should be rewarded instead of blamed for his conduct. He characterises him as a brave, Christian man, who tried to and did do his duty toward all parties concerned in this unfortunate affair. His opinion is, he says, the sa'iie as that of Europeans at the Duke of York Island. These Europeans, in fact, deolared that it was mainly owing to the exertions of Mr Brown that the affair was no worse. The captain expresses his strongest sympathy with Mr Brown, and says that he sincerely hopes he will receive the reward his actions deserve. Unwilling to allow the affair to pass without official reoognition upon his part,] he has despatched a full account of it to the Imperial German Government, and haslalso requested that Government to oonvey to the Rev Geo. Brown, by means of an official communication to the English Government, the thanks of the German Government for his conduct, by which the lives and property of German as well as other European citizens had been protected. When the' Ariadne' left the Duke of York Island, the' Nymphe,' on board of which was the official who is to investigate the affair, had not yet arrived* Her arrival there, and the action of the Acting High Commissioner, will be looked forward to with great interest. Comment on the above is hardly necessary, yet it may be mentioned that the case has received the careful consideration of an experienced commander of a man-of-war, well aoquainted with questions of this character, and the result has been the complete vindication of Mr Brown, and a recommendation from high authority that he should receive the thanks of the German Government. Whether Mr Gorrie, her Majesty's High Commissioner, will coinoidein this opinion remains to be seen.—Herald,